Solicitor says Keith McClenaghan (39) is sorry for disruption caused by his actions

A man has appeared in court charged with communicating false information causing a bomb hoax after suspect devices were found outside houses in Derry on Sunday.

Keith McClenaghan (39), with an address in Moss Park, Shantallow, Derry, was also charged with two counts of possessing home-made explosives with intent to endanger life.

He faces further charges of placing an article causing a bomb hoax at two separate addresses in the city and four counts of communicating false information causing a bomb hoax.

Several properties were evacuated as a result of the devices being discovered and an area close to the city’s police station in Strand Road was among those affected by the disruption. No link to terrorism or the murder of journalist Lyra McKee in the city on Thursday evening is being suggested.

The suspicious objects discovered in both areas were examined by ammunition technical officers who declared them to be non-viable devices.

Defence solicitor Patrick Madden told Derry Magistrates’ Court that McClenaghan wanted to apologise to the people of the city for causing disruption.

Mr Madden also said that no detonators were involved in the incident.

He did not make a bail application for his client and District Judge Mark McGarrity adjourned the case to May 16th. - PA